Active weather pattern stretches over two weeks to delay planting
Dozens dead after two weeks of storms across the country. Snow pack, heavy rain further delays field work and dry conditions get worse across the country.
Transcript
A second round of damaging weather struck the country this week. This tornado was part of a weekend system in Iowa.
Last week’s active weather pattern spawned more than 80 tornadoes and killed at least 24 in storms across southern and Midwestern states and the system continued into this week.
Rainfall accompanied the fronts - further delaying spring field work across much of the nation’s midsection. The weekly look at precipitation reveals much of middle America with spring showers and heavy rain in Wisconsin and Michigan.
Snowpack remains the story in the Northern Plains with only one or two days suitable for fieldwork according to USDA.
For the Southern Plains and into Texas, the story remains a lack of moisture and plenty of opportunity for field work.
The current Drought Monitor reveals 51.5 percent of the country is in some form of drought, the lowest since July of 2020. Parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas are locked in the most severe drought conditions.
Parched conditions have led to multiple wildfires in Oklahoma. Evacuation orders were issued near Weatherford as about 15-hundred acres were burned in what’s being called the Route 66 Fire.
For Market to Market, I’m David Miller.
Contact: Paul.Yeager@iowapbs.org